Friday, April 13, 2012

Bharat Ratana Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar was born on 14 th April 1891 at Mhow to revered Subedar Ramji Sakhpal & Mata Bhimabai of Mahar Community. It is said that Mahars were the rulers of Maharashtra ( Mahar + Rashtra ) but because of Hindu agony & caste based values, they were reduced to the level of Untouchables, Sudras, Ati sudra, whose only shadow was considered enough to pollute an upper caste Hindu. Ambedkar worked over 18 hours a day & at times sky was his roof & the earth his floor, so due to handwork of duo father & son. Bhimrao was married to Ramabai at the tender age of 17 years when his wife was only of 9 years. Mata Ramabai stood like a rock by her Saheb in the later life till her death on May 27, 1935. Bhimrao earned world’s Highest academic Degrees of D.sc ( London ); PhD & LL.D (Columbia ); M.A ; D. Lit ( Osmania ) Bar –at- Law (London ) . Dr Ambedkar knew seven languages. Dr Ambedkar also served on highly prestigious positions as Labor member of Viceroy’s Executive Council (1942-46 ) ; First Law Minister Of Independent India & earned the distinction of selection as Chairman Of the Constitution Drafting Committee to draft Constitution for free India & is so called “ father Of Indian constitution.” Some called him Mother of Indian Constitution as well. He proved an emancipator for Dalits, a torch bearer for the liberation of slaves’ world over & an insurmountable rock for his opponents. A recent extensive survey based list of one hundred most intelligent personalities of world prepared by London based university depicted Dr Ambedkar at serial number one. He contributed for the freedom of India, but more for the Dalits, who were slaves to the slaves of British India. He was highly praised by those who understood his odious cause for the liberation of his Dalit community persons, but also abused as traitor by those who never appreciated his mission of life & wanted to maintain status-quo in social, political, economic & religious spheres even after independence. Many people from different shades of life have expressed their views on the working, personality, handwork, knowledge, experience, contributions, commitment to his mission of Dr Ambedkar to eulogized Doctor’s services to different fields. Dr. Ambedkar passed away in his sleep at 26 Alipore roads New Delhi on 6th of December 1956 and was cremated at Dadar Hindu Crematorium Bombay. Over five lac devotees witnessed the last rites and majority of them embraced Buddhism. The pyre was lit by his only son Yashwantrao Ambedkar at 7.30 pm. A memorial “Chintaya Bhumi” in the loving memory Dr. Ambedkar stands erected there.

A few selected panegyric statements, which illustrate the contribution made in social, education, law, economic, political fields of the maker of the Constitution for free & Independent India are given here under.

R. A. Seligman, Dr. Ambedkar‘s teacher while on commenting The thesis “Evolution of Provincial Finances in British India,” which earned PhD to Ambedkar remarked “Nowhere to my knowledge, has such a detailed study of the underlying principles been made.”

His Highness, Chhaterpati Sahuji Maharaj of Kohlapur State, Remarked, while addressing the conference of untouchables, Presided over by Dr, Ambedkar on 21 st March, 1920 “you have found your savior in Ambedkar. I am confident he will break your sickles. Not only that, a time will come when, so whispers my conscience, Ambedkar will shine as a front rank leader of all India fame & appeal,”

His highness Gakward, the Maharaja of Bikaner (Who gave scholarship to Ambedkar for getting education in USA ) after listening Dr. Ambedkar’s speech in Ist Round Table Conference said to his queen “Their efforts & money they had spent on the speaker of the day ( Ambedkar ) were all realized. It was an achievement, a glorious success The Maharaja was full of admiration, satisfaction and high appreciations with tears of joy in his eyes for Dr. Ambedkar. The Maharaja hosted a special dinner to Honor Dr Ambedkar .

The Free Press Journal of Bombay ( London representative ) while eulogizing the services of Dr Ambedkar said “ Ambedkar was a fearless, independent and patriotic minded leader, whose fearlessness was unbearable to both Hindus & Muslims, and that his opening speech at the first session of the first round Table Conference was the best speech in the whole proceedings of the conference .”

Mahatama Gandhi in a speech (Outside II R Table Conference) said “I have the highest regards for Dr. Ambedkar. he has every right to be bitter. That he does not break our heads is an act of self- restraint on his part. He is today so much saturated with suspicion that he cannot see anything else. He sees in every Hindu a determined opponent of the Untouchables and it is quite natural. The same thing happened to my in my early days in South Africa ….. It is quite natural for him to vent his wrath …..”

On Dr. Ambedkar‘s nomination to the Federal Structural Committee The Indian Daily Mail said, “He is patriot and is vitally interested in securing self Government. In the future discussions, which will centre on the franchise of the Senate and the Federal assembly, this brilliant representative of the depressed classes is certain to play a most important role.”

Nine days celebrations were held to celebrate 50th birthday of Dr Ambedkar in which besides I. L. Party 45 other public institutions participated While addressing a large gathering N.M.Joshi , School teacher of Ambedkar said “ I feel proud that my pupil , to whom I taught in standard IV attained such eminence. Ambedkar was bright & forward student.”

THE TIMES OF India Bombay April 21st 1941 wrote “with out political & economic power, the Harijans will find it hard to attain social equality, and Dr. Ambedkar has done well in realizing this fact.”

The Maharashtrian of Nagpur wrote” Ambedkar was one of the few Maharashtrian leaders, who came to fore front in Indian politics by shear force of their personality, struggle, sacrifice & scholarship.” It further added that the Depressed Classes owned their present political status to his ceaseless struggle.

The Prabhat Bombay, a Marathi Daily, hailed Ambedkar, as a revolutionary leader of modern India & added that without meaning any disrespect to Dayanand, Gandhi, Savarkar , Ambedkar’s services to the untouchables ranked higher .

Veer Savarkar, a sworn enemy of the British, a political and social revolutionary said ‘Ambedkar’s personality, erudition & capacity to lead & organize would have by themselves marked him out as an outstanding asset to our nation.”

B.G. Horniman, the Editor of Bombay Sentinel said “Ambedkar’s great intellectual qualities and his service to the country & his community has put him in the fore rank of great men of India.”
When Ambedkar announced his decision to denounce politics & devote his life for revival of Buddhism, The Shankar’s Weekly in a sarcastic tone wrote, that Ambedkar was nothing more than an Indian to whom renunciation appealed more than jobs & power.

The Times Of India , Bombay, said that those whom knew the economic and social views of the erudite scholar and doughty fighter were under no delusion that he would don politician mantle and take the lead in forming a progressive party ,and it attributed his new bent to the disgust of politics .

Dr. Ambedkar was made the Chairman Of the Constitution Drafting Committee and he piloted this historic document through The constituent Assembly and so became the Principal Architect or “Father ,”of the Constitution for Free India . The amount of lab our put by Dr. Ambedkar in framing the Constitution was commented & commended by many eminent National & International personalities

Shri T.T. Krishanamachari, a colleague of his in the Drafting Committee said “The House is perhaps aware that of the seven members nominated by you, one had resigned from the House and was never replaced One had died & wasn’t replaced. One was away in America & his place was not filled up, and another person was engaged in state affairs, & there was a void to that extent. One or two people were far away from Delhi and perhaps reasons of health did not permit them to attend. So it happened ultimately that the burden of drafting this Constitution fell upon Dr. Ambedkar and I have no doubt that we are grateful to him for having achieved this task in a manner which is undoubtedly commendable.”

Dr. Rajindra Prasad, the President of Indian Union said “In spite of his indifferent health. He added luster to his work.”

Shri Muniswami Pillay ( Madras General ) said “ Coming as I do from a community that has produced Dr. Ambedkar, I feel proud that his capacity has now been recognized not only by the Harijans but by all communities that inhabit India.” While continuing his speech he termed Dr. Ambedkar as a great philosopher whose name & fame is not only known throughout the length and breadth of India but of the whole world. He further added that to the galaxy of great men of Harijans is now added the name of Dr. Ambedkar, who as a man has been able to show to the world that the Scheduled castes are no less important but they can rise to the heights and give to the world their great services.

Seth Govind Das( C.P. & Berar General ) said “ I would at first like to congratulate Dr. Ambedkar who has laboured hard to put this Constitution into proper shape…… I can say that Dr. Ambedkar was quite equal to the task of Constitution making that had been entrusted to him.”

Shri B.A. Mandloi( C.P. & BerarGeneral)said“This House appreciates the services of the Drafting Committee and I congratulate Dr Ambedkar, Chairman of the Committee for successfully piloting the Constitution of free and Independent India .”

Pt. Thakar Das Bhargava ( East Punjab ) while addressing the chair, said “I don’t know , Sir, the terms in which I should thank the Drafting Committee, particularly words fail to convey the gratitude that all of us feel for the acumen, the untiring industry, the consummate skill and the firmness, tempered with moderation, with which the Chainman Of the Drafting Committee has piloted this Constitution through this House and has solved all the knotty questions arising in connection with it .” Dr Ambedkar wasn’t in the house then.

Shri T. Prakasam (Madras: General) said “Dr Ambedkar is a great lawyer, is a very able man. He has shown by the work he has done here, who could be competent to be a King’s council of great Britain, to be perhaps competent to sit on the Woolsack only ;but…….”

Shri H.J. Khandekar( C.P. & Berar General ) said “ … now today we are enacting a law of Independent India under the genius of Dr Ambedkar, the President of the Drafting Committee. If I may so. Sir, I call this Constitution the MAHAR LAW. Because Dr Ambedkar is a Mahar and now when we inaugurate this Constitution on The 26 of January 1950, we see the law of Manu replaced by the Law of Mahar and I hope that unlike, the law of Manu under which there was never prosperity in the country the Mahar law will make India virtually a paradise…”

Mr Mahbhoob Ali Baig Sahib ( Madras – Muslim ) said “Dr Ambedkar was unique in his clarity of expression and thought, and his mastry over the Constitutional problems including those of finance has been marvelous, unique, singular and complete….”

Sardar Hukam singh (East Punjab- Sikh) said” I join my other friends in congratulating the drafting Committee and particularly its leader (Dr Ambedkar) for cheerfully carrying through this heavy strai during these months. It was a gigantic task and they must be feeling relieved after it…….”

Shri S. Nagappa (Madras: General) said “Well, Sir, this has proved to what heights Dr Ambedkar though he is a member of the scheduled Castes, if given an opportunity, can rise. He has proved by his efficiency and the able way in which he has drafted and piloted this Constitution. Now I think this stigma of inefficiency attached to the scheduled Castes will be washed away and will not be attached here after. Only, if, opportuni\ties are given, they will prove better than anybody else.”

Shri J.R. Kapoor (United Province: General) said “ I had started with a prejudice against Dr Ambedkar … The great work that he has done during these three years has washed away that particular sin or any other sin which he may have committed. I have developed an admiration and also affection for Dr Ambedkar for the very the very useful work and the very patriotic work which he has done. I consider him to be one the best patriotic of this country.”

Shri Syamanandan Sahaya said “ Dr. Ambedkar, Sir, deserves the gratitude of not only this Assembly but of the Nation………The mastery way in which they prepared the Draft and the mastery way in which Dr Ambedkar piloted it will ever be remembered not only by us but by the posterity with gratitude.”

Shri Gopal Narain ( united Province : General ) said “ At the outset I congratulate Dr, Ambedkar, the chairman of the Drafting Committee and the members thereof for producing such a voluminous constitution in which nothing has been left out. Even price control has been included in it ,…… a word more for Dr Ambedkar, Sir. He is lucidity and clarity personified. He has made a name for himself ….”

Shri S.V. Krishanamoorty Rao ( Mysore State ) said “…..and I stand before you to add my humble meed of praise to the Chairman and members of the Drafting Committee for making an excellent job of the work that was entrusted to them….”

Shri Ari Bahadur Gurung (w. Bengal: general) said, “I associate myself with my colleagues in congratulating the Chairman of the Drafting Committee for having brought this stupendous task to a successful conclusion…”

Giani Gurmukh singh Musaffir (East Punjab: Sikh) said, “… In preparing the draft Dr. Ambedkar and members of Drafting Committee have worked very hard. They deserve our congratulations…”

Shri R.V. Dhulekar( united Province : General ) said “…. Dr Ambedkar has performed a very great work. I will not say Herculean because that is a very small word. . He has performed a task worthy of the great Pandava Bhim and worthy of the name he has Bhimrao Ambedkar. . We are very grateful to him ...”

Shri Alladi Krishanaswami Ayyar (Madras: General & Member of Constitution Drafting committee) said, “… I will be failing in my duty ,if, I do not express my high appreciation of the skill and ability wioth which my friend the Honourable Dr Ambedkar has piloted this constitution and his untiring work as the chairman of the drafting committee…..”

Shri Dharanidhar Basu Matari (Assam: General) said “…..Adding my tributes to Dr Ambedkar and the Drafting committee for the great achievement in producing this constitution…”

Shri Manikya Lal Verma( United State of Rajasthan ) said ,“ Mr President , first of all I take this opportunity to offer my thanks to the Honourable Dr Ambedkar and the members of this House…’

Shri K.M. Jedhe (Bombay: General) said, “…...Sir, I stand here to congratulate Dr. Ambedkar & his colleagues for having taken great pains in framing India’s new constitution……Ii remember he burnt Manu Smiriti in a large meeting of the untouchables at Mahad in1929. He is the great leader of the Harijans and is greatly extolled by them as their champion and is worshiped as an idol. They are very proud of him . They call him Bhim and make it known to the public that he has framed Bhim Smiriti. I also call it Bhim Smiriti…….. Dr Ambedkar is a great lawyer and a man of great ability and intellect, nobody will doubt that….. Dr Ambedkar was very keen and earnest in safeguarding the interests of the Harijans. All Harijans must be grateful to him…”

Shri Jaipal singh ( Bihar: General ) said “……and add my own tributes, unqualified tributes, for the tremendous work Dr Ambedkar and his hard working team has put in making of the new Constitution……”

Shri L.S.Bhatkar (CP & Berar ) Said “ Mr. President, I congratulate Dr Ambedkar and other members of the Drafting Committee for preparing this draft Constitution with so much labour and industry after our country had achieved its freedom……”

Mr. Frank Anthony( CP & Berar ) Said “ I would like to pay a particular tribute to my Honourable Friend, who is sitting on my right , Dr Ambedkar. I do not believe that any one of us can really gauge the volume of work and the intensity of concentration that must have been involved in the production of this voluminous document…..”

Shri Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya said “….Dr Ambedkar has gone away, else I should have liked to tell him what a steam –roller intellect he brought to bear upon this magnificent and tremendous task; irresistible, indomitable, unconquerable, leveling, down tall palms and short poppies: whatever he felt to be right he stood by ,regardless of consequences….”

Shri Mahavir Tyagi said”… Dr Ambedkar, who was the main artist has laid aside his brush and unveiled the picture for the public to see and comment upon.. “

Shri Suresh Chandra Mujumdar said “….In conclusion, may I offer my respectful congratulations to
Dr Ambedkar to my elders and colleagues in this house on successful performance of a great arduous and historic task…”

When Dr. Ambedkar resigned as the union Law Minister of India the Times of India wrote “Dr. Ambedkar is also a foeman worthy of one’s steel. The last few years have seen him harnessing his outstanding ability to constructive purposes and both the country and his community stand to gain, if, he continues in that path,”

The National Standard, Bombay observed “There are few men in a country as well equipped as Dr. Ambedkar to take charge of Planning or of Finance or of Commerce & Industry. What the Govt losses the country hopes to gain,”

Dr. Ambedkar received Honorary Degree of Doctorate of Law on 5th June 1952 and the university (Columbia USA ) hailed him “as a framer of the constitution, Member of the cabinet and of the council of states, one of the leading citizens ,a great social reformer & a valiant upholder of the human rights .”

Danajay Keer a biographer of Dr. Ambedkar wrote “To visit Dr.Ambedkar, was to visit a speaking museum.”

Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru the first prime Minister of India used to introduce Dr. Ambedkar as the jewel of his cabinet .

On the death of Dr. Ambedkar While requesting the Lok Sabha to adjourn for the day Pt. Nehru said “Dr. Ambedkar would be remembered mostly as a symbol of revolt against all the oppressing features of Hindu Society. His virtual opposition to these oppressive features had kept people’s mind awake. Although he was a highly controversial figure, he played a very constructive & very important role in the Government activities. He revolted against something which every body should revolt against.”

Veer Savarkas said “India has lost in Dr. Ambedkar a true great man.”

Dr Rajindra Prasad the President of India said “Ambedkar was the Architect of our Constitution and his services in various capacities, particularly for the upliftment of the Depressed Classes, could not be exaggerated.”

C. Rajagopalachari while describing personality of Dr Ambedkar said “- ... -Ambedkar was a thoroughly upright person and a man with keen jurist sense, a proud and irreconcilable heart, a great learning and when approached in the right spirit, a full of friendliness. Such a one has found peace after life’s fit full work.”

The Times Of India “He was an able, gifted and versatile man who in different circumstances might have rendered even greater service to his country & community. “

The Free Press Journal said “The country would long remember him as one who righteously revolted against wrongs.”

The Amrit Bazar Patrika, while described Dr. Ambedkar as a militant spirit bent upon the destruction of the old order which was based on injustice and denial of human rights- - - and made him the worthy son of this continent.The New York Times said “Ambedkar was known and honored throughout the world chiefly as champion of the Untouchables…..”

The Times of London said that his name would figure prominently in any history of the socio- political evolution of India in the closing years of the British India …………

U. Nu. The Primer of Burma said “Dr. Ambedkar was without dispute one of the illustrious figures that played a historic part in the annals of the great country India, at a time when changing trends and Conditions were making significant impression on the life & social structure of the nation. He was one of those who helped accelerated process of the social change in the country, a process in the case of which hundreds of thousands, even millions had been enabled to look forward to a better life and a happier life.”

Shri R. Venkataraman, the former President Of India Said”Dr.Ambedkar anticipated every conceivable requirement of the new polity.”

Shri K. R. Narayanan former President of India said “Dr. Ambedkar had faith in the Constitution that he helped to fashion for India. His visualized democracy as the Golden Means.”

Sri Sharad Pawar Former chief Minister of Maharashtra, now Union Minister said” Dr. Ambedkar and Constitution have become synonymous.”

In the end I may quote from the saying of Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s views on Economic Progress and a word of guidance / warning to his community & countrymen:-
"The good things of this earth do not fall from heaven. Every progress has it bill of costs and only those who pay for it will have that progress"

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Mata Rama Bai Ambedkar

It is rightly said, “There is a
lady at the back of very successful man”.it was so in the case of Goswami
Tulsidass, Shatrarpati Shiva Ji Maharaj, Tilak, Gandhi Veer Savarkar, Mahatma
Jyotiba Phule, Baba Sahib B R Ambedkar and may other personalities, who made
history of sorts. The success of Dr. Ambedkar had incalculable contribution of
his noble wife Smt.Rama Bhai Ambedkar, She was intelligent, kind, poise,
obedient, chaste, religious, possessing high character, besides having
simplicity of style and taste. This saintly lady although lived in extreme
poverty but without a whisper of complaint on her face. Always turning her eyes
towards God for the safety and prosperity of her husband. She was gentle by
temperament, sober in manners, weak in constitution but modest in speech.
Revered Ramabhai a sober and good girl came of a good but poor family. She was
the second daughter of Bhiku Walandkar, a resident of Walang village near
Dapoli in Konkan in central India.
He worked as porter at Dopli. He used to carry fish loads on his head from sea
side to the bazaar. His earning was so meager that he could hardly make both
ends meet. Dapoli is a place where child Bhim was admitted in his first school,
when he was 5 years. Old, as his father Subedar Ramji Sakpal had migrated after
his retirement. Rama bhai was born in 1898. her childhood name was Ramibhai and
she has two sisters Gorabhai and Meerabhai and one brother named Shanker
Dhutrey. Shanker Dhutrey also called Shanker Walangkar worked in a press. These
unfortunate children lost first their mother & after some time their father
too in childhood so were brought up by their maternal and parental uncle in Bombay (now Mumbai). Bhiva
later called Bhimrao Ramji Dass Ambedkar and Ramibhai (later Ramabhai) were
married when they were 16 years and 9 years old respectively: The marriage was
ceremonised shortly after Bhim had passed his matriculation examination. The
marriage pandal was an open shed of the Byculla Fish market in Bombay, after the days
market was over. At night the bridegroom and his relatives were lodged in one
spacious corner of the open shed and that of with her relatives in another
corner. The small stone plate forms in the market served as benches, where a
small gutter of dirty water flowed underneath their feet. The marriage place
was vacated in the early morning before sunrise to enable the merchants to
carry their daily business. The marriage was ceremonies with religious rites
and jollity. Ramibhai was renamed Ramabhai after marriage and later earned the
distinction of being called Mata Ramabhai Ambedker.

Rambhai
Ambedker was illiterate at the time of her marriage but her husband later
taught here simple reading and writing. Educationally there was world of
difference between the two but they loved and respected each other from the
core of their heats. Love, faith, sincerity, sacrifice and understanding links,
between the two persons formed unbreakable chain to live happily, despite both being ducationally poles aparts. Bhim
used to call his wife affectionately as “Ramu” and she called him “Sahib”. She
was deeply proud of her husband and Bhim respected here immensely. As
Dr.Ambedkar was always busy in reading & could devote very little time for
house hold affairs. At times she used to press here sahib’s feet in the
evening, when he was reading & slept on the floor under his feet. But
Ramabhai ensured that nobody disturbed him during this study or working. She
cared for the health and welfare of her husband by all means.

When
Ambedkar was in America,
she lived a life of destitute but without any regret. It is rare historical
example of courage & conviction of a wife (Ramabhai) who used to make cowdung cakes and carry bthe same on her
head, to use them as cheap household fuel, despite tauntingremarks from
neighbouring women folk, when her husband (Dr B R Ambedkar), also in acute
financial crisis was struggling to obtain world’s highest Academic degrees
including Doctorate of Science in foreign lands. Despite financial crisis for
studies and at home. . Dr Ambedkar became Barrister reinforced by a London
Doctorate of Science, an American Doctorate in Philosophy and Studies of Bonn
University, which reflected immense sacrifices of his wife. When Ambedkar was
preparing to go to America
for higher studies, the neighbouring women advised Ramabhai to stop her husband
from going abroad, as he may marry a Mem (English lady) and desert her. But
Ramabhai had unflinching faith on her sahib and replied to those ladies that’
she knew her husband well and he cannot do so”.

Despite
Ramabhai‘s little education she was an expert housewife and knew well to run
her house hold affairs. On getting money for monthly household expenses from
Ambedkar she used to divide the money into 30 parts keeping each part separately. Daily she opened one
part and used it, so as not to run penniless on last dates of the month. Her
economical habits and faith in her
husband, enabled the couple to get constructed their palatial house
namely, Rajgrih in Bombay.
But even after moving into Rajgrih, it did not affect her simple habits.

The
wedlock of this ideal couple was blessed with four sons and one daughter, Out
of his four sons namely, Ramesh, Gangadhar, yashwant and Rajratna and one
daughter Indu only one son namely Yashwant Ambedkar (Father of Sh Parkash
Abmedkar MP) survived, others died mostly in fancy. This gave the couple great
pains and sorrows. On the death of his youngest son Rajratan on Ist July 1926,
Dr Ambedkar wrote on 16th August to one of his friends, “There is no
use pretending that I and my wife have recovered from the shock of our Son’s
death and I don’t think that we ever shall. - - - - - - - with the loss of our
kids the salt of our life is gone - - - - “ After a long period of mourning
& on the insistence of his well wishers, Dr Ambedkar settled down on the
work for emancipation of down trodden but Ramabhai Continued in grief. This
acted upon here health badly and she fell gravely ill. She being highly
religious even during illness, she continued observing fasts on Saturdays, took
only water and black gram, worshipped God for His blessing on her husband. Her
thoughts, mind and eyes were devoted to the service of her Sahib. At this she
would say,’Sahib what is there in having so many Degrees, cannot we live
happily with lesser education perhaps she did not know that the emancipation of
million of untouchables was possible only with knowledge of order which Dr
Ambedkar acquired before plunging into the war to breake the age old chains of
slavery of his brethren.

On
Ramabhai’s insistence and life long Dr Ambedkar took Ramabhai to Pandharpur for
pilgrimage of Bithal Ji Maharaj, in whom she had lot of faith. But being
untouchables they were not allowed to go near the temple, so they had to stand
at a distance from the temple idol to offer prayers. It irritated the
self-respecting Dr Ambedkar and he said “What of that Pandherpur, which
prevents its devotees from seeing the image of God, by our own virtuous life,
selfless service and spotless sacrifice in the cause of downtrodden humanity,
we shall create another Pandharpur. Another Pandharpur ! He kept his promise by
leaving Hindu religion and embracing Buddhism and re-establishing Buddha in His
motherland after centuries. Illness at last over power the weak body physique
of Rama Bai Ambedkar. She was even taken to Dharwal Bai Dr.Ambedkar for change,
but this to did not help in improving her health. No medicine could give her
relief and at last on 27th
May 1935 unfortunate happen. She passed away at her residence.

Thus
came the end of the nobility of mind and purity of heart. But fortunately Dr
Ambedkar was by the side of her death bed. About 10,000 people rich and poor,
educated and illiterate, important and common attended here funeral procession.
Her son Yashwant Ambedkar preformed all Hindus ritees at the bidding of a Maha
priest Sambhoo More, who was Baba Sahib’s colleague since their school days.
After the death of Ramabhai, Baba Sahib was a completely broken person. Over a
week he kept weeping like a child and it was difficult to console him. He put
on a dress of a hermit and got his head tonsured. The saintly saffron robe
indicated a hermit with world negating attitude. On the repeated requests &
advice of his trusted friend and well – wishers he again took in his hand the oar to sail across his suffering
fellowmen and to cut their age old chains of slavery.

SAVITRIBAI PHULE

The first women known in the
Indian history which lived and died for the social upliftment of down trodden
was born on 3rd of January 1831 in Naya Ganj , Tehsil Khandala
,District Satara of Maharashtra. Her name was Savitribai. Her father’s name was
Khado Ji Nevse Patil. At the time of her
birth , no body could realize that the small ray of light which had descended
on the earth in the form of Savitribai shall become a torch bearer for many,
who were suppressed, illiterate, ill fed , ill clothed and a lightening for
suppressors and oppressors inflicting tyranny in the name of caste and sex, on
millions belonging to their own country and religion .

At the tender age of 9 years in 1840, she was married
to a great social revolutionary Jyotirao
Phule, who was then 13 years old. The union of two small lights later
emerged as a big Light House for millions of their fellow countrymen and pulled
them out of their ignorance, illiteracy and ill treatment meted out to them by
upper caste Hindus. They jointly fought for
the down trodden people of India to live with dignity keeping
spine erect. Jyotirao Phule, later affectionately called
Mahatma Jyotirao Phule proclaimed that illiteracy the ill of all ills
causes lack of intellect which in turn causes lack of moral which results in
stagnation, promoting further loss of riches and fortune which caused fall of Shudras. So
ban of education to Shudras in Brahminical literature caused their all round
degradation, so he gave preference to impart education to Shudras for their
over all upliftment.

The Education to Savitribhai was imparted at home by her
husband, who had passed his Secondary Education Examination in 1847 from
Scottish Mission High School Poona and had decided not to accept any job under the
government. On reading Paine’s famous
book “The Rights of Man” revolutionized the young mind of Jyotirao Phule and he
in turn influenced the tender mind of Savitribhai, who also took oath to help
her husband for Social Revolution even at the cost of her life and comforts.

They jointly opened the very first Girl’s School in 1848
against the vicious campaign launched by orthodox upper caste Hindus for such
an act of the Phule couple, as education to girls was coded as unlawful in the
laws of orthodox Hindus, although they claimed to possess the most
knowledgeable books called “VEDAS” but practically treating Shudras & women
worse than animals. No upper caste Hindu teacher came forward to teach in this
newly opened Girl’s School in which untouchables girls , besides Hindu Girl’s
were admitted. Therefore, Savitribai was appointed as Headmistress of this
school on I st January 1848 by Jyotirao Phule. This school was run
from the house of a Brahmin in Budhwara Peth, with majority of Brahmin girl
students. The orthodox Brahmins raised a great hue & cry against carrying
on women education including those of Shudra girls, which stood banned by the
Hindu scripture. As soon as Savitribai came out from her house to go to school,
people would throw on her cow dung and mud spoiling here dress, which she
washed at the school and at her residence. But ill treatment meted out to her
by upper caste Hindus did not deter her from her strong convictions and she
carried on with the noble cause for the social change. She, instead , opened
another school on 15th
May 1848 in untouchable’s colony and it was run by her widowed
sister –in-law (husband ‘s sister) Smt.
Suganabai. On this again the reactionaries, raised objections and threatened
Govinda Rao (Jyotirao ’s father) with dire consequences, if, he failed to
dissociate himself from the activities of his son & daughter-in-law.So he
asked the couple to leave his home as both of them refused to give up their
missionary endeavor. Both shifted to a
Muslim Mian Usman Sheikh’s house. Smt.
Fatima Sister of Mian Sheikh known as first Muslim women teacher of 18th
century, started educating Dalit children in this school opened by a Dalit
couple. This was an extremely difficult task during those days of Brahmin
domination in government and social circles, but Savitribai did it by dint of
her courage, determination, intelligence and her commitment to the cause of
Dalit upliftment through spread of Education the only road to their
empowerment.

Jyotirao Phule blamed the British Government for spending
profusely a large portion of the state revenue on the education of the higher
castes, which resulted in monopoly of all higher offices under the Government
by the Brahmins. The dedicated couple wanted to break this monopoly so as to
prepare the down trodden masses for struggle of having equal rights as human
beings in their own motherland. Jyotirao Phule for the first time , made strong
demand in memorandum submitted to Hunter Commission in 1882 for free & compulsory education to all.
This plea was accepted on the instance of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and incorporated in
the Constitution of Free India in 1950.

Widow re-marriage was banned then and the child marriages
were very common among the Hindus including Brahmins. Many Hindu widows
resorted to Sati (burning of the bride with the dead body of their husbands) in
full public view. Many women got
windowed in their young age and not all of them could live in a manner in which
orthodox people expected them to live. Some of the helpless widows resorted to
abortion or left their illegitimate children to their fate by leaving them on
the streets. Out of pity for them Jyotirao Phule established on orphanage,
possibly first such Institution founded and funded by a Hindu. The Phule couple
gave protection to pregnant widows and assured them that this orphanage would
take care of their children and Savitribai Phule Shouldered the responsibility
of managing the orphanage. It was in
this orphanage where a Brahmin widow named Kashi Bai gave birth to a boy
in 1873 and the Phule couple adopted new born as their son and heir giving him
name as

Yashuwant, who was given education to become a
qualified doctor. During 1876-77 famine she feed and cared about 200 children
with the help of her doctor son free of cost. She was a great source of
strength to her husband.

Savitribai was not only an educationist but a great
philanthropist, social revolutionary, writer and poet. Perhaps she was the
first Indian woman revolutionary who worked against all odds for the
emancipation of week and downtrodden women & children. Her poetry book
first published in 1854 was titled as “KABYE PHULE” In one of her poems she
makes out that the British succeeded in establising their rule in India due to
denial of Educational opportunities by the Aryans to the original inhabitants
of India. During various invasions the 85% of the population were made mute
spectators when their motherland was
occupied forcibly by the foreign
invaders, for which nobody else but Brahmins and caste system were responsible. When she was told by her
brother to follow the path shown by Bhats (Brahmins) she rebuked him by telling
that she was following the just path being followed by her husband and she
could not be blind follower of Brahmins like her brother. She also tauntingly
said to him, “Go and love the cow and the goat and offer milk to snakes on
Nagpanchmi,, even then the Brahmins shall turn you out of Puja Sathal branding
you as untouchables. This shows her strong conviction and will power, when actually she was very poised
lady having her heart filled with love for all.

After the death of her husband in November 1890, she
successfully managed for seven years the affairs of “SATYA SHODAK-SAMAJ”
established by her husband to look after the needs of unfortunate children.

During the spread of Cholera in Maharashtra
in 1897 she opened a number of helping centers for all sufferers in rural and
urban areas. She used to carry patients personally to the clinic of her son
Yashuwant, who cured hundreds of them free of cost.

While carrying
personally a cholera ridden Mahar boy to the clinic of her son and to get him
admitted there, she got infected from the Mahar boy and she died of cholera on the 10th of March 1897.

We salute the iron lady who struck hard to break the shackles of religious progeny,
caste and dynasty to establish social order of Universal Brotherhood. She was
first Indian women leader, who worked for the upliftment & dignity of women
& children and was a staunch opponent of orthodox laws including
Untouchability. She was mother to helpless orphans, a teacher to illiterates
and solace to ill and suffering masses. She deserved to be honored as “Mother of Women Education in India”

She is even now a source of inspiration for establishing
a rule based on equality, justice and fraternity. Let us draw inspiration from
her life& works and re-dedicate ourselves for the service of down trodden
and Dalits besides those sections of society who are deprived of equal opportunities
of life.

KANSHIRAM - Dalit Empowerment
Hero

It is
a foregone conclusion that after Baba Sahib Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Sahib Shri
Kanshi Ram was tallest personality on Indian political scene, who kept the
flameof Dalit Empowerment burning
forover four decades with the same
motto, strength ,vision and dedication. Dr B.R. Ambedkar uprooted the centuries
old orders and created ways and means for the Indian Dalits to achieve heights
in all spheres of life. He fired constitutionally the priestly class man made
obstacles created in their social, political, religious, economic, educational
spheres. He restored to the Dalits what was snatched away by deceit from
them.Baba Sahib’s early death marooned
his cherished dreams to see once again the original habitants of India to rule
the state and gain their lostprestige
and privileges. Sahib Shri Kanshi Ram watered this idea with is life long
sacrifices and gained much of the lost grounds. He made the Dalits conscious of
the privileges enjoyed by Rulers and subjects. On 14 th April 1965,
he took the oath “ I will complete the
unfinished mission of Baba Sahib Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. I shall look after the
welfare of my samaj”. He declared Dalit Samaj his family, all Dalit women
his sisters & all Dalit men his brothers, he vowed to remain bachelor
through out his life & not to acquire any property in his name. He said
good bye to his family, family life, family comforts for the sake of cutting
slavery chains of his fellow brethren. This he kept as a Buddhist Monk’s word.
He got converted to Buddhism To achieve the goal of making Dalit masses a
united electoral force to acquire political power andto educate themSahib Kanshi Ram traveled through out the length
& breath of India on his bi- cycle along with his trusted lieutenants.

The ground so prepared through life long
suffering of Baba sahib would have become again barren, had Kanshi Ram not
ploughed it with full vigor, sown seeds
of politico-socio-economic revolution, watered it with his sweating toil
and guarded it with day & night bi- cycling. He challenged socio-cultural
values of religion dominated order & gave Dalits Samaj a vision to get rid
of false religious dogmas, discriminatory religious books & even false man
made gods. Kanshi Ram was a great public mobilizer; he understood values of
self-respect & collective wisdom of
communities to gain political power to use it to their advantage.

Shri Kanshi Ram worked to educate
the 85%
Indian population comprising of
Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Back ward Classes and religious minorities to gain their rights to ruleover India. While arousing the
inner conscious of Dalits Shri Kanshi
Ram coined value based slogans from time to time to give directions to Dalit
masses; one such was “Jiski Jitni Sankhaya Bhari, uski utni Bhagidari”. He was
perhaps one leader, who kept his promise, proved true to his words. He lived
& died as a leader, with out any immovable or moveable property, any bank
account, house, land plot or flat in his name. To achieve his set goals, he
lived as an ordinary Dalit, took meals in small hutments, wayside dhabas( rural
road side eat houses), slept on floor. Once he was seen sleeping night long on stone mettle kept for
road paving.He used to keep awake for days & nights to equip him with
literary knowledge, assimilate it into practical thoughts & to devise ways
to use it for the advantage of his peoples, many of whom were ill fed, ill
dressed, naked, illiterate, exploited and miss guided. Sahib Shri Kanshi Ram emerged on Indian
political horizon as most luminous star, when Dalits were feeling leaderless
& direction less, after the untimely death of revered Baba Sahib Dr.
Bhimrao Ambedkar. Baba Sahib by dint of his hard labour, scholarly research and
political vision prepared ground for Dalit liberation from the yoke of upper
caste domination, challenging hate culture of superstitious upper caste Hindus
against their Hindu religious brethren, so called Shuders & Ati- Shuders.

Sahib Shri Kanshi Ram was born on 15th March, 1934, in
Ramdasia or Chamar Sikh family, an untouchable caste of Brahminical caste
division. He was one of the seven children of his father Shri Hari Singh &
mother Shrimati Bishan Kour. He was born at village Khawaspur in Ropar District
of Punjab State. In his family, he was the only graduate. He joined service in
Poona city of Maharashtra State in Ministry Of Defence, the Explosive Research
and Development Laboratory ( ERDL). Here he came in contact with one Dheema
Vana, a suspended class IV Dalit employee of his office. Late shri Dheema Vana
demanded Holiday on Dr .Ambedkar &
Budha Jyanties. Then the ERDL had ordered cancellation of the holidays on
account of Birthday of Baba Sahib and Budha Yyanti and replaced it with the
Tilak Jyonti besides declaring a holiday
of Dewali. Later Shri Dhemma Vana’s both
these demands were acceded to and he was reinstated. Shri Dheema Vana’s heart was filled with
faith & love for Dr. Ambedkar. After getting inspiration from Dheema,
Kanshi Ram studied literature on & by Dr. Ambedkar. It is said he read
“Annihilation Of Caste” several times in single night. He then resigned from
service to carry forward, the mission of uniting millions of Dalits, bond
them through brotherhood bonds reminding them of their centuries old slavery &
sufferings. He shook them to wake
from their deep slumber so as to consolidate them into a force to be reckoned
with. He single handedly awakened in Dalits a sense of empowerment.

Those close to him tell how hard he worked to built up his first social
& educative organization of
employees of all SC’s, ST’s, OBC’s & minorities named BAMSEF on 6th Dec. 1978 & then prepared them to launch their Youth’s sangarash Simiti ( Agitational
forum) “ DS-4” on 6th Dec. 1981.

To prepare solid ground to get right share in
political power, he launched his Bahujan Samaj Party on14th April,
1984.Kashi Ram shook the conscious of those who are under represented in our
Parliamentary system and were craving for a change. There by he consolidated
masses to work for their own political organization BSP, many voluntaried to work for BSP as “Mission Ka Kaam” His message was so
inspiring for his peoples, that once a BSP volunteer was always so. Due to Kanshi Ram’s political vision soon BSP
became a National Party & attained third position, leaving far behind many
political parties, who were formed decades earlier. Sahib Kashi Ram himself won twice ( 1991
& 1996) for Lok Sabha. But in 1998
he promised not to contest for any political
office till he gains strength to win from at least 100 Lok Sabha constituencies . The election winning spree flourished and in
UP assembly it won66 seats out of 162 it contested in 1993. Kanshi Ram’s
political maneuverability made Behan Mayawati chief Minister of UP thrice in
coalition with other parties, but he did
not yield to undue pressure from them even at the cost of loosing CM’s.
Gadi

The graph of winning seats in Lok
Sabha elections also rose dramatically :

SeatsLok Sabha

zero 8th

04 9th

03 10th

11 11th

05 12th

15 13th & 14th

Lok Sabha His continuous
efforts in this direction bore fruits
of winning clear majority in 2007 in UP
Assembly elections with 208 seats, standing Second on 111 seats&
loosing other 60 seats with a margin of less than 5000 votes. Behan Mayawati,
now National President BSP was sworn in as Chief Minister of UP State with
clear majority. But alas Sahib was not
lucky to see the day of farming his BSP government in Uttar Pradesh on its own strength.

With the demise of
Sahib Kanshi Ram vested interests have found ways to penetrate in BSP, the
brain child of Sahib Ji who nourishedit
with his Daily blood dose. The glaring example can be quoted of J&K State,
where once it won four seats in the State Assembly and now has been reduced to
zero. The oft repeated Chamcha Raj by Sahib Shri Kanshi Ram is gaining grounds
day by day for getting his sacrifices.During the period of 24 years since the formation of BSP, the INC Govt
programs of multinationalisim & New Economic order under late Prime
Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, or Rath Yatra Of Sh. LK Advani culminating in
demolishing of Babri Masjid on 6th Dec 1992, could notsway away Dalits from Kanshi Ram’s Programme
of gaining political power to have share in running the affairs of union of
India.Credit goes to Kanshi Ram that
Dalits having over 85 % Indianpopulation forming SC’s, ST’s, OBC’s or other minorities, have not
challenged the Constitutional arrangements, avoided violence against thestate or other ethnic groups. Kanshi Ram’s
formula that numbers, not violence work in democratic India is no mean
achievement for which we allbow to Kanshi
Ram.

Like every one else, he had to leave the mortal frame of body, although
it is painful for those who are left behind to bear the shock. So happened with
Sahib Shri Kanshi Ram Ji. He was not keeping good health for quite some time,
but the brain stroke he suffered in Hydrabad during a meeting on 15th
March, 2003 proved fetal. He was shifted to New Delhi Batra Hospital and
remained under expert treatment for over three years. The unfortunate end came
on Monday the 9th October, 2006 at 12. 20 at 11, Hanuman Road New
Delhi, the official residence of Behan Mayawati. National Personalities like
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha L.K. Advani.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Lalu Yadav, Ram Vilas Paswan and
other paid their homage to the Messiah of Dalits. His funeral was attended by lacs
and he was cremated at Nigam Bodh Ghat New Delhi on 9-10-2006. He left behind
his wish that his mortal remains be not immersed in any river but kept in BSP
Party HQ at Delhi & Lukhnow. He qualified his birth and death as per the hymn of Kabir Sahib, a great
Mystic “Jab Ham Aye Jagat Main, Jag Hansa
Hum Roay, Aisi Karni Kar Chaloo, Hum Hansain, Jag Roay” (On child’s birth,
child cries but locality celebrates birth with joy, One must work for the good
of the society, so that at the time of death the locality mourns but the person
dieing feels joyous )

Sahib Shri Kanshi Ram prior to death made Behan Mayawati as his heir
& National President of BSP on 18-09-2003. Let us see how far she is able
to see the masses united, as many fights have stared appearing in the BSP, and
to plug these loop holes. Labour and suffering of Kanshi Ram needs to be kept
in mind & his tested formulae of unity followed. If his comrades slip from
his ideals, it shall be a sad commentary & bad luck for his now united masses.
Sycophancy or Chamchagiri should be kept away from the Dalit affairs. Behan
Mayawati shall have to strengthen the party with the same dedication as
of Sahib Shri Kanshi Ram pulling it
out of present day mess of Chamchagiri or sycophancy.

Sahib
Shri Kanshi Ram shall be long remembered for his visionary saying “NUMBERS, NOT
VIOLENCE WORK IN DEMOCRATIC INDIA” Dalits should win race to New Delhi Gadi by
democratic means only, leaving no space for violence against any ethnic group.
Let us encourage the anti- status -quo forces to gain National unity.

Babu Milkhi Ram
(1926-1989)

Babu Milkhi Ram Ji was an
uncompromising crusader for social justice. Despite heavy odds in his personal
and social life, he carried on his campaign of mass awakening and building up
pressure on the Government of granting the Dalits their rights to reservation
in services, allotment of land with
ownership rights to the landless poor. He declined the tempting offers
of the berth of a Finance Minister in the State Cabinet of the J&K State
under Prime Minister ( As was then designated), Bhakshi Gulam Mohammad, so
preferring a life of poverty and
suffering , sharing the joys and sorrows of the milieu he spouted from. He fought a relentless fight,
both within and outside the legislature, against the discrimination meted out
to the Dalits especially in the affairs of the State administration, imparting
them quality free education

As Baba Sahib, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar,
Babu Milkhi Ram too did not enjoy very big personnel successes in the literary
sense of the term, but the mark made by him on the people’s psyche is indelible, indeed. People, old and
young, and socio-political leaders, irrespective of their political leanings,
remember him with a sense of reverence.

Born on 14 June, 1926 in a family of
a cobbler or shoe maker Shri Rohlu Ram
of Jammu, young Milkhi Ram was physically strong and mentally alert. He played
football and Kabaddi and was also very found of wrestling and kiting. He was a
great lover of sweets and pakoras ( A black gram flour Fried with vegetables dish). A sense of purpose and firm
conviction were reflected in his thought, action and speech.

He passed his Matriculation
Examination in 1944. He married to a Middle Standard (8th Class)
pass lady, Smt. Ishri Devi, in 1947 at the age of21 years. Shri Rohlu Ram was
ditched by business associates/ partners at Jammu, so he migrated to Kashmir
leaving young Milkhi Ram and otheer family members under his care back home. Shri Rohlu Ram never
returned back and breathed his last in Kashmir. Milkhi Ram bravely shouldered
the entire responsibility to run the family as an undergraduate, by carrying on
tuitions and working in shoe making shop.. To eke out a living and meet his
educational expenses, Milkhi Ram Ji
worked as a shoeshine boy and made rubber chapels from worn out Tyres
which were then popular among the poor
hilly people of J&K.

Influenced by the teachings of Swami
Jai Gopal Gir Maharaj of Palouta Sahib (Ramgarh, Samba tehsil of then Distt.
Jammu ) , a Dalit saint and a
staunch follower of Sant Guru Ravi Dass.
Palouta area has a large population of
Chamars also called as Ravidasias . Shri Milkhi Ram chose the path of service
of poor, the downtrodden and rid them of the curse of social discrimination
meted out to them in various walks of life. Despite heavy odds throughout his
life, he did not budge from his set goal of “Service to masses is service to
God” . The life and mission of Baba Saheb, Dr. B.R. Ambedker influenced Babu Ji
to whom Babu Ji met in Punjab sometime in 1951-52. Their meeting changed still
further the life’s motto of Babu Milkhi Ram, so he dedicated his whole life for
the just cause of the deprived, depressed, neglected, illiterate half fed
peoples of J&K State. In later years
Babu Milkhi Ram was greatly influenced by the working & teaching of Babau
Jagjivan Ram and both used to have close contacts & intimate interactions
on all matters pertaining to welfare of the Depressed classes peoples.

On the advice of Mr. William, then
Principal of a private school, Babu Ji
served as a teacher for a while as Babu Milkhi Ram was a trained teacher as
he had already passed the B.T. (Bachelor
of Teaching) Exam. After a considerable gap of time , he felt the necessity of
providing legal assistance to the penniless people from the villages so he
perused his Law studies at Delhi and earned LL. B Degree in 1964. He practiced
as lawyer at Jammu, which helped the poor peoples to get justice. But he
charged very very nominal fee at times even free of costs.

In 1950, he founded Harijan Mandal
(Central) in contradiction with the already existing organization of the
similar name, viz. Harijan Mandal (founded in 1940 by the Harijan elite after
dissolving a single caste organization called Megh Mandal) whose protagonists
were pro-establishment. After completion of his graduation, he contested the
first Assemble election in 1952 which lost. He, however, won the 1957 Assembly
poll but found him self alone as a Dalit leader amongst the opposition.

Thereafter, he contested almost all
Assembly elections till 1987 but lost with a lower vote percentage in each
successive poll. But, paradoxically, his popularity, both among the masses and
in the political and Government circles, rose day by day. That was, perhaps,
due to the extraordinary qualities of leadership he possessed. Undeterred by
his election failures, Babu Milkhi Ram ji continued to hold high the flag of
the Dalit Movement in the Jammu region of J&K. He offered resistance, led
demonstrations and organized rallies and strikes in protest against the
discriminatory behavior of the establishment towards the Dalits.

He provided leadership to the Dalits
agitation in Marhin and Chhann Rodian in Kathua Distt in 1956. Unfortunately,
meeting at both these places were disrupted by a Dalit Patwari who, obviously,
was misled by certain unscrupulous elements from amongst the non-Dalits who didn't approve of the Dalits’ Unity and restoration to them their legitimate
rights.

Following this, on 26 July 1956 a team
of eleven volunteers went on a hunger strike which continued fro five days,
till the Prime Minister Bakshi Ghulam Mohd. Came thee and assured of justice to
the Dalits in J&K. He commended Babu Milkhi Ram as a true leader and
offered him he berth of Finance Minister in his Cabinet provided he merged his
Harijan Mandal with National Conference. Later, on 15 November, 1956 a rally
was organized at Karan Park Jammu, where the same conditional offer was
repeated by the Prime Minister. But he declined the offer both in favour of
betraying the movement he had started in 1950, although many that he could have
served the Dalits more effectively, had he joined the J&K Govt. as Finance
Minister.

Consequent upon bowing down by the
Government to the demands of the strikers, many of the miscreants were who had
stone pelted the meetings were put behind bars. A couple of them went
underground and became Sadhus to avoid detection. 165 pounds of the strikers’
blood lost thus bore fruit in the form of Babu ji’s entry into the J&K
legislative Assembly in 1957 and many others became officers and ministers in
the later years. He continued raising the reservation and farmers’ tenancy
rights issues-with the result the Government of J&K issued an order of
reservation for SCs in public services in 1971.

As a
precursor to his joining National Conference under the leadership of Sheikh
Mohd. Abdullah, in 1975, he participated in the meeting of Democratic Socialist
Forum organized by the latter on 2 December,1974. In 1979 he joined Mirza Afzal
Beigh’s Revolutionary National Conference and was nominated its provincial
president (Jammu).

Irrespective of his political
affiliations, Babu ji pursued the Programme of forging and strength the SC- BC
unity rather relentlessly. As a step in
that direction, he started a news-paper SUBH-E-Jammu in 1980 and presented a 25
point charter of demands to the Government. In 1982 he was nominated as Vice
Chairman of the J&K State Scheduled Castes Advisory Board. But, on the fall
of Dr.Farooq Abdullah’s Government in 1984 he resigned it and preferred to
return home walking instead of using the official car. Thereafter, he founded
the SC-BC Federation and became its President.

Once a confidant of Babu ji told him
that the people considered him a fool, as he worked for those who worked
against him. His reply was, “if you are not satisfied with my way of working,
you may also abandon me, but I will continue working for them irrespective of
their being my friends or foes”. Such was the greatness of that saintly figure
of the Dalit Movement in J&K.

Babu ji breathed his last on 7 May,
1989. Although he is no more with us, physically, but Dalits still cherish his
memory. He will be remembered for his straight forwardness, righteousness and
his concern for the poor and the meek. He will continue to serve as a beacon
for us for centuries to come.

Note

Although the
above accounts, based on a write up from one of the close relatives of Late
Babu ji, is supposed to be most authentic and comprehensive’ still, as there is
always a scope for improvement, readers and his contemporaries and devotees may
send more entries on the missed out important points, if any, for publication
as supplements to the above articles in the next issue of Samatavadi Bharat. In
addition to English, such entries received in other local languages shall be
adapted to Hindi or English.

More such
entries from other parts of India are invited for publication in the series
“Unsung Heroes of the Dalit Movement in India” in the future issues of
Samatavadi Bharat.

Mahatma
Jyotiba Phule

Ever since the Hindu religion got divided into castes
rigidities and society got divided into low and upper castes, it has increases
the miseries of the low caste people termed as untouchables or Dalits.All doors
of progress, social, economical, educational, cultural were closed for the
Dalits.They were denied the normal human dignities by their own brothers and
sisters, who always looked towards them for all comforts of life but denied
them the same. The Hindus offered milk to snakes; rice with sugar to ants;
worshipped tress like Tulsi, Pipal, and animals like cows but got polluted by
the shadow of a Dalit, who are non-else but the creation of the same God for
whose realization Hindus observe extreme austere like living in lonely forests,
undertake long journeys to 68 places of pilgrimage, observe fasts etc..But God
is great and it sends its messages from time to time to show the masses the
just path of love for all and hate to none.

A similar
personality took birth on 11-4-1827 to revered couple Govindarao and Chimnabai
in village Khanbari of Poona, who was named Jyotiba. He earned the title of
Mahatma and title of Bukar T.Washington (American President and a great leader
against acts of slavery & apartheid).Since

Gobindarao and his
two brothers served as florists under the Pashwas, so they were called
Phules.Chimnabai died when Jyotiba was 9 months old..Gobindrao wanted his son
to get a higher education so as to spread the Gyan Jyoti for the humanity at
large and Dalits in particular. But all relatives of Gobindarao were against
the education of Jyotiba and so Jyotiba was taken out of school after he passed
his primary school at the age of 9 years. Despite this Jyotiba continued
working in fields during day and reading at night by lighting kerosene lamp. On
the insistence of Goffar Beig Munshi ( A Muslim )and Latiz Sahib(AChristian) as
both had great influence on Gobindarao who
got admitted his son in Scottish Mission High School at Poona in
1891.Jyotirao completed his secondary education in 1847 and decided not to
accept any government job but work for the upliftment of downtrodden and
deprived section of society and to spread education among them.

One day when
Jyotibrao accompanied the Barat of his Brahmin friend, but was insulted and
abused by relatives of his friend as how a Dalit dared to take part in Barat(
Marriage Party ) of a Brahmin. After this incident Jyotiba made up his mind to
defy the caste system and decided to serve the shudras and women who were deprived
of all of their human rights under the caste system.Jyotiba was married in 1840
to Savitribai.Savitribai Phule worked as the true disciple and co-missionary of
her husband. They changed the history by opening a school on 1-1-1848 for girls
in Poona where Savitirbai was admitted as first Student along with four Brahmin
girls, one Maratha girl and sixth a shepherd family girl.Jyotirao Phule
continued this school despite opposition from orthodox Hindus, who considered
this act against their religion, as Hindu scriptures considered educating girls
& Dalits as a great sin. Savitirbai received more education at home from
his husband, who appointed her Headmistress of one of his schools. Even parents
of Jyotiba did not co-operated & they turned him along with Savitribai out
of their parental house, when the couple did not agree to desist from their
chosen path. They opened 18 such schools including some having co-education.

Feeling pity
on the condition of orphans Jyotiba Phule opened orphanage, perhaps first such institution by
a Hindu. Jyotiba Phule gave protection to widows & assured them that
orphanage shall take care of their children.
It was in this orphanage that a Brahmin widow gave birth to a male child
in1873 and Jyotirao Phule adopted him as his son naming him Jaswantrao Phule
& educated him to become a qualified doctor. To earn his livelihood &
to run his schools & other institutions he worked as contractor in
PWD. He termed this department as hotbed
of corruption.

He published his controversial book “Slavery,” in 1873 ,in which he
declared his manifesto that he was
willing to dine with all irrespective of
their caste, creed, or country of origin Jyotirao Phule formed “ Satya Shodhak Samaj on 24 th
September 1873 & in 1876 it had 316 members. The main objectives of this
organization were to liberate the Shudras, Ati Shudras & to prevent their
exploitation by the Upper caste Hindus. He refused to regard Vedas as
sacrosanct & denounced Chaturverna & instead published his book “Satya
Dharma Pustak in 1891. According to him
all men & women were equal & entitled to enjoy equal rights & it
was a sin to discriminate between human beings on the basis of sex or caste
& creed Wodow remarriages werw banned and child marriage was very common
amongthe Hindus Society Jyotirao opposed both & worked to benefit them
and got re married one Shayani caste
widow on 8th march 1890 against strong
protests

He
opposed the evil customs so on the death of his father he did not call his
caste people for meal instead he distributed meals in beggars, distributed
pencils, writing wooden planks ( Patties )
& books to children which became annual function to remember his
father. He opposed the tyranny of
landlords & money lenders , so he organized a protest Dharna in Poona
District where farmers joined in large
number 7 burnt the recorde of the money lenders. He got a marriage ceremonised on 25 th December 1873 without
the participation ob any Prohit. In the marriage feast the was only Pan &
Supary nothing else. He edited a weekly
news paper “ DEEN BANDU ,” from 1st January 1877. This became a very popular
paper & Jyotirao Phule varied through it his mission of guiding his fellow
persons against the evils of the society Jyotirao Phule helper getting released
in1881 from jail Lok Manaiya Ganga Dhar Tilk &Goda Adkar who were sentenced
for writing in their papers “ The Kesri & the Maratha ,”
against the policies of the British Govt.

For the
life long service to the Dalits & other deprived section of the society
Jyotirao Phule was awarded the Title Of MAHATAMA. On 19 th May 1888. The function was
attended by degneties like Justice Ranade,
Dr. Bhandarkar , Tukaram Tatiya , Lokhande, Dholey & Bharkar besides .
Jyotirao Phule was addressed by Saya Ji Rao Gaikwardas Bukar T Washington in
his letter to the president of the function.

Jyotirao Phule got his right hand incapacitated in an illness, so he
stated writing with his left hand & wrote a book titled as “ SARIVJANIK
SATYA DHARAM , “ After ceaselessly working for over 63 years Jyotirao Phule
passed away on 28 th November 1890 about 138 days before the birth of Dr. BR Ambedkar another luminary, Father
of free India’s Constitution , & worked lifelong for the emancipation of
Dalits , depressed, week & women
Jyotirao Phule shall be remembered for the centuries to come for the good work he did for the Dalits &
Depressed peoples of society.

The life size statue of Jyotirao Phule was installed in the
compound of Indian Parliament on 3rd of December 2003, near the Statue of Baba
Sahib Bhimrao Ambedkar

Jyotirao Phule said
illiteracy the ill of all ills that lack of education causes lack of intellect
which in turn causes lack of moral
resulting in stagnation promoting
further loss of riches and fortune which caused fall of Shudras. So
ban of education to Shudras caused their all round degradation

CHHATRAPATI SHAHU JI MAHARAJ

(1874-1922)

Rajarshi Chhatrapati
ShahuJi Maharaj was king of the Indian princely State of Kolhapur known to be a great social reformer of his time.
Shahu Ji was a staunch follower of
Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and great admirerof Dr B.R. Ambedkar. Shahu Ji belonged to Oil
presser “Teli” caste but devoted his
life for the upliftment
of theDalit society. He challenge the
Brahmanical supremacy in administration and on 26th
July 1902 by sanctioning 50% Reservation for the backward Classes in Kohlapur
StateServicesThis wasagainst the tough opposition from upper casteBrahmin Ministers who numbered

over 98% in administration against 3% share in
population of Brahmins in the state. He
assertedhis full
authority over his kingdom and took a number of welfare schemes for the
depressed class peoples As per his
renowned biographer Shri A.B. Latthe “He was greatest Maharaja that ever sat on
the thrown of Kohlapur and one of the powerful men that the nation ever
produced in its long& Brilliant history”. Chhatarpati Sahu Ji Maharaj’s
concern for good administration can be judged from his statement “Although I am
on the throne of Kohlapur, I feel proud to call myself as solider, farmer or
labourer . while addressing meeting in
Madras he said “ I am here not as king but friend to those whose pitiable
condition shall melt even a stone
hearted person . He
passed laws to allow training of non-Brahmin men as temple priests along with
declaring religious places properties as Kohlapur State properties. He ordered
that the appointment of Shankaachariyas in future shall be with Kohlapur State
authority.He abolished Kulkarni system
and appointed Kshatra Jagadguru ringing a bell of reasons and secularism
forHis subjects. He approved conducting
of marriages with out a Brahmin priest. He promoted inter caste marriages among his
subjects. However it created ill will towards
Maharaja by irrational thinking superstitious Brahmins who were supported by Lokmanya
Tilak and some others. While opposing right of higher Education to Bachward
Classes, Tilak is on record to have said in one of his speech dated
11November,1917( Javatmal Maharathtra) “ would the tailors use sewing machine,
the peasants their plough and the merchants the scale of balance in the
council” Tilak & congress party was for the Bachward classes peopled to
follow their ancestral trades, where only elementary education needed.
Determined to implement his egalitarian thoughts so was prepared to face all his adversaries
opposing them. On 15 April,1920 Chhatarpati
Sahu Ji Maharaj replied thus to Tilak, “ Tilak would have been ashamed
of expressing such thoughts in his
speech Brahmin V/s Brahmantra. Tilak advised untouchables not to take secondary
education after primary educatioin. He wanted them to learn them to learn the
crafts of their castes, thus he believed in constitution of the caste
profession for the untouchables and not in giving them the higher education to
them “However Maharaja was not against Brahmins but Brahmanism and Brahmanical
ways and their half hearted reforms. so many good hearted Brahminslike V.D. Topkhane, Gopal Krishan Gokhale,
Rajaram Shastri supported the progressive efforts.

Shahu Ji was born on 26 July in
the year 1874 as Yeshwantrao Ghatge. He was the eldest son of Narayan Dinkarrao
Ghatke also called Appasaheb Ghatge and his wife Radhabai,. Narayan Dinkarrao
Ghatke was the head of Kagal and his wife was the daughter of the Raja of
Mudhol that's in today's Karnataka state.. Narayan Dinkarrao Ghatke was Regent
to Kohlapur State, so lived in Laxminivas Palace in Kohlapur where Yeshwantrao
Ghatge was born.

Sahu Ji
Maharaj lost his father at the age of 12 years and his mother when he was only
three years. Shahu received his earlier education under the care of his father.
As luck would have it Yeshwantrao Ghatge when a child of only 10 years, he was
adopted by Anandibai, the widow of Chhatarpati Maharaja Shivaji IV ( Narayanarao) of Kolhapur on March 17th,
1884. He ascended to the throne of
Kohlapur Chhatrapati and was given the name as
Chhatar Pati Sahu Ji Maharaj. Grown up Sahu Ji Maharaj was over five feet
and nine inches in height and bore majestic appearance of a real Maratha king. Wrestling
was one of the favorite sports of Chhatrapati

Shahu Ji Maharaj was married to Laxshmibaisaheba
on 1st, April1891 then only
11 years old bride. She was daughter of a Maratha nobleman Shri Meharban
Gunajirao Khanvilkar from Baroda having blood relation with Chhatrapati of
Satara .Sahu couple was blessed with four children.

The Maharaj came in cotact with Dr B.R. Ambedkar when they
were introduced by Dattoba Pawar and Dittoba Dalvi (artist) and their association lost till the
sudden end of shahu Ji Maharaj in 1922. Sahu Ji was greatly impressed by his
revolutionary ideas. Maharaj Ji always
lent helping hands by all means to any body from untouchables found in
distress. He met Dr B.R. Ambedkar a number of times during 1917-1921. When Dr
Ambedkar expressed his desire to start a fortnightly newspaper to bring about
an awakening among Dalits Sahu Ji Maharaj denoted Rs2,500.00 for this noble
cause. Dr Ambedkar started “ Mooknayak”
(Leader of the Dumb) on 31st
January ,1920. Also when Dr Ambedkar
faced financial problems in completion of his for studies in September 1921.
Sahu Ji sent Rs750.00 with assurance to Dr Ambedkar that he can write for any
such help to him any time. Again Sahu Ji Maharaj sent a cheque worth Rs1500.00
to Dr Ambedkar at his London address on 5th October 1921. When Mooknayak landed in financial distressed
Shahu Ji Maharaj pulled it out by donating Rs750.00 in January 1921and
Rs1000.00 on 21st
Febuary,1921. The first conference of
untouchables was organized under leadership of Shahu Ji Maharaj (21-22 March)
1920 at Mangaon Kohlapur , Dr Ambedkar was Chairman. The Maharaja told the
gathering that they had found a leader in Dr Ambedkar who will work for their
amelioration.

Shahu Ji
Maharaj’s qualities of head and heart earned him honorary LLD from Cambridge
University and ; G.C.S.I; G.C.V.O; G.C.I.E; titles from Queen Victoria, Duke of Co naught & Empiral Darbar
Respectively. As per the law of the nature who so ever has born is to die. Some
people live for others and they are remembered ages after their demise.
Satarpati Ji Maharaj suddenly passed away on 6th May, 1922 at a
prime age of 48 years. He has left
indelible mark in the history of India. He worked with dedication, strength,
intelligent and exerted his authority despite many hurdles. He shall go in the
history of Indian Dalit empowerment